Blasts and Low-Altitude Aircraft Reported in Venezuelan Capital Caracas
Witness testimonies circulated of multiple detonations and the noise of low-altitude aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of the weekend. The situation has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and requests for international scrutiny.
Caracas Blames United States of Aggression
The socialist administration has blamed the Washington of what it calls "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the South American country. In an official statement, the authorities asserted that strikes had hit the capital and three other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our only objective of this attack is to gain control of our nation's natural resources, notably its crude oil and minerals," the government asserted.
Venezuelan officials called on the international community to condemn the actions, which it described a "clear infringement of global law" that endangered millions of civilians in jeopardy.
Reports of Explosions and Military Installations Targeted
Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing roughly several detonations around the middle of the night local time. People in several districts allegedly rushed into the open.
"The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard blasts and planes in the distance," said one witness.
Plumes of smoke was observed billowing from two defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to reside.
International Condemnation
The leader of neighboring Colombia, wrote on X that "Currently they are bombing Caracas... bombing it with projectiles." He requested an urgent emergency meeting of the Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would activate operational protocols at its shared border with Venezuela.
Preceding Events
The reported strikes follow a prolonged pressure campaign by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Since August, there has been a major US military presence off the country's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on ships accused of narco-trafficking.
The government has stated "a state of emergency" and commanded all defense measures to be activated. It has also summoned its political forces to take to the streets and "repudiate this imperialist act."
The White House and the US Department of Defense have not promptly commented on inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.
